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At Goals Soccer Centers, athletes of all ages try their hand—or rather foot—at the world’s most popular sport during league and open play. Eleven artificial-turf fields accommodate five-a-side teams for fast-paced outdoor games. Rebound walls enclose pitches, inviting players to bang balls off them for tricky passing, and netting keeps all spherical objects from flying out of bounds. In between matches, teammates refuel at the onsite restaurant or relax in a lounge equipped with TV and free WiFi. Complete with showers, tidy locker rooms also give footballers ample space to dress and clean up before and after contests.

You step up to the plate and raise the bat, realizing you have just enough time for a quick footing adjustment before the ball comes hurling at you. The bat swings forward and connects with the ball, sending it soaring into the air. But instead of running around the bases to the soundtrack of adoring fans, you ready yourself for another ball. And this one's going to feel the hurt even more.
This is the experience Sluggers Batting Cages offers, allowing kids and adults alike to act out their dreams and hone their at-plate skills while in a safe outdoor environment. Automated machines pump out heaters in individual batting cages, while protective fencing catches balls that would have otherwise earned batters home runs, doubles, or concussion-related lawsuits. Sluggers also offers party packages for teams or birthday celebrants who want to make a whole day of it, sweetening the deal with pizza, pop, and a private room.

Visit South Gate's The Toadstool for fresh ribs that fall off the bone, sweet corn and homemade baked beans.
Low-fat, gluten-free and anything else you've been looking for waits here.
Complement your meal with a beer or wine from The Toadstool's delightful drink menu.
Happy hour at The Toadstool is filled with deals and steals.
Take your meal to the next level on the patio at The Toadstool.
Dine with fellow dancing machines — the restaurant is stocked with a lively, open floor.
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The restaurant is next to a parking lot, but drivers can also settle for street parking.
The Toadstool offers safe bike parking outside.
You can enjoy a delicious meal at The Toadstool for a bargain rate, with most tabs there running well under $15 per person.

Groupon Guide

The upcoming week will be easy on your pocketbook: there’s a food-truck lunch on Santa Monica Pier, a gallery exhibit with a celebrated British street artist, and a comedy show featuring some bona fide TV stars, all of which are free. (Bring some money to that last one, though—there’s a silent auction for a good cause.) And as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Los Angeles.
Final Day of Food Truck Week
Santa Monica | Saturday, October 11
The only thing better than a food-truck lunch? A free food-truck lunch. This year's finale feast is brought to you by Wicked Kitchen, who will be giving out spicy italian-sausage mac until they run out. Can't make it to the Pier? Share the FTW poster on social media and win a free lunch with 10 friends. (Santa Monica Pier; free)
IndieCade
Culver City | Through October 12
Open to both industry professionals and the general public, IndieCade gives gamers a chance to play more than 150 of the year's most celebrated independent video games. Attendees may play casually or enter tournaments, go to meet-and-greets with game creators, and network at industry events. (9300 Culver Blvd.; $20–$445; tickets sold onsite)
The Harvey Show!
Hollywood | Tuesday, October 14
Yes, this comedy show’s lineup includes Pete Holmes and Silicon Valley's Kumail Nanjiani. And yes, it's free. But bring some dough—NerdMelt will be taking donations and auctioning off items (including SNL tickets) to raise money for Chicago comedian Steve O. Harvey, who's battling cancer and whose infant daughter is hospitalized with a rare congenital disorder. (7522 Sunset Blvd.; free; RSVP required; buy tickets here)
D*Face: Scars and Stripes
West Hollywood | Through October 15
A pop-up exhibit from famed British street artist D*Face, this collection of portraits depicts Hollywood stars and musicians who died young (Cobain, Tupac, et al.). The multimedia artist has been celebrated for his ability to integrate graffiti, animation, punk-rock influence, and Lichtenstein-style pop art. (315 S. Robertson Blvd.; free; RSVP required)
The Trip to Bountiful
Downtown | Through November 2
Leading an all-star cast that includes Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood, Cicely Tyson reprises her Tony-winning role as an urbanite who wants to return to her small Texas hometown before dying. It’s Tyson’s first stage role in 30 years, and the New York Times is calling it the performance “of [her] lifetime.” (Ahmanson Theatre; $30–$110; buy tickets here)
Photos courtesy of Wicked Kitchen, Pete Holmes and Kumail Nanjiani, and the Ahmanson Theatre

This week, it’s officially time to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. A lemonade-themed festival and Beer Week barhopping early in the week feel distinctly summery, but by week’s end you can start prepping for Halloween at Universal Studio’s annual fright fest. And as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Los Angeles.
2014 US Sumo Open
Long Beach | Saturday, September 20
This year's field of 40 challengers includes Byamba, a World Sumo Champion who has taken the title the last seven years in a row. Watch him continue his streak or get upset while sipping Sapporo and Hakutsuru sake. (Walter Pyramid; $25–$70; email to inquire about ringside seats; buy tickets here)
L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade
Westwood | Saturday, September 20
Yes, it's pricey, but it's for a good cause: this ongoing food-and-drink event raises money for Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer. And you'll be getting a lot of bang for your buck, thanks to treats and appearances from celebrity chefs such as Giada De Laurentiis and Roy Choi. (Royce Quad at UCLA; $195–$5,000; buy tickets here)
Interpol
Pomona | Tuesday, September 23
Textured instrumentation and Paul Banks's austere vocals make Interpol's music perfect for ringing in the fall season; just ask fanboy David Letterman, who kept saying he wanted to join the band after their performance of new single ''All the Rage Back Home'' on his show earlier this month. (The Fox Theater Pomona; $32.50–$42.50; buy tickets here)
LA Beer Week
Various Locations | Saturday, September 20, to Sunday, September 28
If you weren't one of the lucky ones to score a ticket to the sold-out kickoff party, never fear: there are plenty of events throughout the week, including rotating beer flights at Mohawk Bend in Echo Park and an 18th anniversary party at Stone Brewing with specialty vintage beers on tap. (Various locations; free; buy tickets here)
Halloween Horror Nights
Hollywood | Through Sunday, November 2
Have you ever wondered if you could outrun The Walking Dead’s zombies or The Purge's anarchists? Try your luck at Universal Studio's annual Halloween fest, which has 12 new attractions this year. Discounts available for several dates when purchasing tickets online. (Universal Studios; $52–$209; buy tickets here)
Images courtesy of USA Sumo, Interpol, and Halloween Horror Nights’ Facebook page

Whether embracing your inner child at an ice-cream festival, reliving your high-school years at a screening of Dazed and Confused, or commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement, this week’s events give you a chance to revisit the past. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Los Angeles.
Street Food Cinema
Exposition Park | Saturday, August 2, 5:30 p.m.
If seeing Richard Linklater’s much-lauded new film Boyhood has you jonesing for some of his cult classics, this outdoor screening of Dazed and Confused should do the trick. Come early for food-truck fare and indie-rock tunes from local band Speardane, before settling in for the 8 p.m. screening. (700 Exposition Park Dr.; $6–$17; children 5 and younger are free; buy tickets here)
People Get Ready: A Soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement
Downtown | Saturday, August 2, 8 p.m.
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement, this concert features modern soul and world-music singers performing freedom songs by Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and other legends. The lineup includes French favorites Les Nubians, as well as Sam Cooke’s granddaughters, who’ll likely be covering their grandad’s classics. (350 S. Grand Ave.; free)
Once
Hollywood | Through August 10
This Oscar-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning story may have moved from Off-Broadway’s modest theaters to the Pantages’ grand stage, but it still centers on the original songs Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová wrote for the film. If you get there early enough, you can even grab a drink from the onstage bar before the show begins. (6233 Hollywood Blvd.; $32.25–$140.70; buy tickets here)
Ice Cream Festival
Downtown | Through August 24
At Rosa Mexicano, chefs are throwing a month-long Ice Cream Festival, during which they’re making scoops inspired by their savory, south of the border foods. Flavors include avocado, cinnamon-chili-spiced chocolate, and sweet-corn-and-caramel. If you’re worried how these concoctions might taste, don’t be—Martha Stewart once said the restaurant serves “the best guacamole in the world.” (800 W. Olympic Blvd.; free)
Jack & the Giant
Sawtelle | Through August 24
In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, kids in the audience decide the characters' fates by helping them make decisions along the way. The Little Theater's intimate, 49-seat setup eases the interactive process, but come early for a good seat as the venue is first come, first serve. (12420 Santa Monica Blvd.; $10–$15; buy tickets here)
Photos courtesy of the Dazed and Confused Facebook page and Rosa Mexicano.